You are here

Veteran Serves Community Through Volunteerism

Veteran Serves Community Through Volunteerism

PAM CLOUD TIMES RECORD Retired Army veteran and resident volunteer David Lyle, 83, enjoys serving other residents at Crawford Healthcare and Rehab while giving back to the United Way partner agency Project Compassion as a volunteer.

Did You Know?

Did you know the United Way and its 33 partner agencies make a difference in people’s lives in the community every day?

They do. And you can help impact someone’s life by contributing to the 2013 United Way campaign.

To hold a workplace campaign, make a contribution or for information, call 782-1311, visit www.unitedwayfortsmith.org or the United Way’s Facebook page.

Editor’s Note: This report is part of an ongoing series looking at the personal impact United Way partner agencies have on those in the Fort Smith area. The series appears weekly on Tuesdays in the Living Section.

When David Lyle moved in to Crawford Healthcare & Rehabilitation in Van Buren 26 years ago, he spent two days in his room.

That was enough for Lyle, who asked his nurse if he could go up and down the hallway in his wheelchair. She told him, “Sure, but don’t go outside.”

The retired Army veteran wheeled himself down to the administrator’s office to have a chat.

“I can’t just stay in one place,” he told the administrator. “Is there anything I can do?”

From that day forward, Lyle, now 83, has been a resident volunteer at the facility, delivering mail and newspapers to the residents, assisting with activities and serving as the resident council president for the past 21 years.

Lyle is very involved with the residents — knowing every one personally and by name.

“I love every resident — every one of them,” he said. “A nursing home — it can be brand new, but that doesn’t make a nursing home; the people does.”

Over the years, he’s become an active volunteer at the facility for Project Compassion as well.

Lyle is one of more than 300 PC volunteers who provide one-on-one visitation and companionship to residents who might not have family or friends nearby; assist with group activities like birthday parties, cards, bingo and dominos; provide gifts for residents of 30 area long-term care or retirement facilities in Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma during the Easter and Christmas seasons; and provide music and pet therapy. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to provide joy and quality of life to area nursing-home residents.

When Lyle first moved to Crawford Healthcare, he received stuffed animals — each one with a patriotic or his beloved eagle theme — lap throws, pajamas and slippers from Project Compassion.

“It means a lot,” he said from his end-of-the-hall room, decorated with shelves of bald eagle figurines and walls bedecked with pictures or embroidered eagle scenes and lined with framed certificates of appreciation for all his volunteer work and plaques recognizing his service, including the 1992 Resident of the Year Award at New Haven Nursing Home.

“I’m proud of ‘em,” added Lyle, the married father of six (four are deceased), grandfather of 13, great-grandfather of six and great-great-grandfather of one, who served in the infantry during the Korean and Vietnam wars, earning the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Army Commendation Medal. “They also gave me some eagles; they know I love eagles.”

Not only does he know from a personal perspective, but he sees the joy that some residents who aren’t as fortunate as he to have family nearby experience when Project Compassion volunteers visit.

“To have Project Compassion available to them means a lot,” said Lyle, who writes poetry and participates in the Senior Olympics. “Especially the visitation; oh, that means a lot to us.”

Even though he’s now retired from serving his country, Lyle continues a life of service — giving back to his fellow residents and the organization that has helped make life a little brighter living in a long-term care facility.

“Project Compassion helps a lot of people,” he said, adding that the United Way community partner agency is a worthy recipient of the community’s generosity. “Project Compassion needs it; most of the people there are volunteers.”